The Toronto Raptors will host the Phoenix Suns this afternoon for a 12:30pm ET shootout at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors return home after playing two of their last three on the road, including a Friday night game in Indianapolis. NBA Picks at BetUS.com have the Suns listed as a -3.5 against the spread road favorite.
Toronto might be happy to see a Western Conference uniform considering the fact that they are just 11-14 versus Eastern Conference competition; however, it is doubtful, because they have gone 5-11 against Western Conference foes. Unfortunately for the Raptors, location is not much of a soother either as they are 8-11 at the Air Canada Centre and 8-14 on the road. All of this explains their current 16-25 record and fourth place standing in the Atlantic division.
The dinosaurs come into this afternoon's contest on a four game skid, the latest casualty a 104-111 loss against the 15-25 Pacers. Toronto is averaging 99.2 points per game at home, and they do shoot the ball adequately there at 46.7 percent (ninth best in the league – home field goal percentage).
Phoenix is not exactly riding a heat wave into this out of conference tilt either, having lost two games in a row, but they have managed six wins in their last 10 games. Their 22-15 record has them positioned in second place in the Pacific division, a full eight games behind the Los Angeles Lakers. The Suns skirmish with the Raptors is the beginning of a six game East Coast road swing with stops in Boston and Atlanta before returning home to face the Spurs on the 29th.
The Suns offense will pose a difficult challenge for the Toronto defense as they average 104.1 points per game on the road (second only to the Lakers) and they shoot a league best 49.4 percent from the field in opposing arenas. However, they do not defend that well, giving up 102.7 points per game away from the America West Arena, a tally good for fifth worst in the league.
NBA Picks Betting Trend: The Over is 6-4 in Toronto's last 10 as a home underdog with a total between 205 and 210.
BetUS.com's Phoenix Suns vs Toronto Raptors NBA Picks:
Suns -3.5 (-110), Over 209.5 (-110)
Raptors +3.5 (-110), Under 209.5 (-110)
